Certificate database entries deleted.
Deleting certificate records covers tracks of issued certificates used in ESC attacks.
Alert: certificate DB deletions outside documented cleanup schedules.
SubjectUserNameTargetUserNameLogonTypeIpAddressWorkstationName | Tactic | Technique |
|---|---|
| Defense Evasion | Indicator Removal (T1070) |
Starting points — adapt the log source, projected fields and thresholds for your environment.
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4896 // One or more rows have been deleted from the certificate database
| project TimeGenerated, Computer, SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress, WorkstationName
| sort by TimeGenerated descindex=* sourcetype="WinEventLog:Security" EventCode=4896
| stats count earliest(_time) as first_seen latest(_time) as last_seen by ComputerName
| sort - count `# One or more rows have been deleted from the certificate database — add EventData fields: SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress`One or more rows have been deleted from the certificate database. Certificate database entries deleted.
Event 4896 is written to the Security channel by Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing. Advanced Audit Policy — enable the 'Certificate Services' subcategory (Success and/or Failure).
Event 4896 is associated with: Indicator Removal (T1070).
Alert: certificate DB deletions outside documented cleanup schedules.